Mayor says $500K culvert project will stop flooding

SOUTH BLOOMING GROVE — What is the $500,000 solution to much of South Blooming Grove's consistent flooding woes?

Michael Novinson

SOUTH BLOOMING GROVE — What is the $500,000 solution to much of South Blooming Grove's consistent flooding woes?

Two words, village officials say: box culverts.

One of the wide box culverts was installed last month under Stonegate Drive, while another will be placed under Peddler Hill Road by Labor Day.

The village expects replacing narrow culvert pipes to improve the flow of Satterly Creek under the two roads during extreme events such as Hurricane Irene or Superstorm Sandy.

"You get kicked enough times, you know what to do," Mayor Rob Jeroloman said. "This is going to stop flooding."

A hydrologist brought the box culverts to the village as a means of avoiding flooding at little additional cost.

The village pitched the idea to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which agreed to pick up $450,000 of the tab. The village will cover its $50,000 share by relying on its rainy-day fund.

Three culvert pipes under Stonegate Drive proved wholly inadequate during Irene. Raging floodwaters were diverted from the creek onto the street, leading to its collapse.

Stonegate Drive remained closed for nearly 22 months, reopening just last month.

"Each time one of these events happens, you figure out where you've vulnerable," Jeroloman said.

Irene caused Peddler Hill Road to wash out for the third time in four years. The road reopened shortly after the storm using stones as a temporary fix for the eroding stream bank.

The road will be closed for most of August, Jeroloman said, as a box culvert takes the place of a single culvert pipe. The larger opening will allow for far greater drainage of the pond west of Peddler Hill when water levels begin to rise.

Peddler Hill should reopen by the start of the school year, Jeroloman said.